ARE-ASEP (closed)

About ASEP

The Access to Sustainable Energy Programme (ASEP) is a joint undertaking of the European Union and the Philippine Department of Energy (DoE). Through ASEP, the EU has allocated a grant of over PhP 3 billion to assist the Government of the Philippines to meet its rural electrification targets by means of renewable energy, and to promote energy efficiency. As a focal sector for EU development cooperation with the Philippines, the EU has earmarked a total of EUR 190 million out of an overall cooperation budget of EUR 325 million to the energy sector for the period 2014-2020.

The ARE-ASEP Cooperation

With 7,641 islands, 1,702 potential off-grid sites and around 400 MW of diesel generating capacity installed in over 320 off-grid missionary areas, the Philippines offers tremendous potential for the implementation of clean energy and hybrid mini-grids. Under the new administration, the Department of Energy of the Philippines’ goal is to attain 100% electrification for all islands of the Philippines by 2020.

This is why the government is reviewing current policy and regulatory procedures that will streamline the process on Qualified Third Parties (QTP) and New Power Producer (NPP) investments in hybrid and clean energy mini-grids in the Philippines. The revision will pave the way for collaboration between electric cooperatives and private sector players, which could provide innovative and competitive energy access solutions to answer the country’s off-grid power supply challenge.

To make use of this window of opportunity, the Philippine Department of Energy (DOE) and ARE through the support of the European Union through ASEP, organised the Philippines Mini-Grid B2B Forum on 19-21 September 2018 in Manila Hotel. The Philippines National Electrification Administration (NEA) was also one of the supporting organisations.

The Forum brought together 283 local and international players from more than 30 countries to share knowledge on the latest mini-grid industry developments and innovative technical solutions to bring down the costs, as well as to link key players to form mini-grid partnerships.

The Philippines Mini-Grid B2B Forum highlighted key bottlenecks as well as solutions to achieve full energy access in the Philippines and to increase the share of renewable energy in existing diesel mini-grids and power plants.

Key lessons learnt from the Forum include:

1. Increasing capacity of the most challenged local Philippine electric cooperatives
2. Further improving regulations for clean energy mini-grids in the Philippines
3. Financing and subsidies for hybrid/clean energy mini-grids in the Philippines
4. Lack of coordination between private sector mini-grid developers, government and electric cooperatives

Download the key recommendations for decision-makers

Project period:

2018